Monday’s Design Wall

Quilting Withdrawal

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I have been away – without Internet connection and have done absolutely no sewing in the past 3 weeks!  Yes, I am going through quilting withdrawal!  At least it will be an easy fix!

A creation like this was on our beds each night!

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SEW …. How do I know I was going through quilting withdrawal?

  1. I didn’t get to talk about quilting on the cruise …I would mention that I was a quilter and I would get polite smiles and comments like “my ancient great grandmother was a quilter.”
  2.  THEN, on the LAST day,  the LAST time I was in the elevator, just before we got off the ship and one lady mentioned that she hadn’t met a quilter on board and there were THREE of us in the elevator!  GROAN – missed opportunities!
  3. My sewing machines are feeling neglected … I can tell – there is dust near the needles!  (Dust on the top is normal around here!)  And – they are calling out to me … SEW, SEW, SEW
  4. When I did have Internet connection, (for about 10 minutes in each port), I diligently downloaded the clues to the new Bonnie Hunter mystery.  I think I must have read each clue at least 4 times …
  5.  I’m still debating about the mystery … not whether or not I’m going to do it – but which colours I will use …. usually by this stage, I would have both clues in progress ….
  6. I’m really missing my quilting buddies … a LOT!  It seems like ages since we’ve sewn together
  7. I’m a bit annoyed that I have laundry and more laundry and even more laundry to do …
  8. I’m annoyed that I have to go to the gym before I can sew (my own rule!)  And aren’t rules meant to be broken? unknown-jpg

Stash Report

Fabric Used this Week:     0  yards  
Fabric Used year to Date:  171  yards
Fabric Added this Week:    0  yards 
Fabric Added Year to Date:  62 yards
Net Fabric used for 2017:   109 yards  

UFO tally

UFOs completed
Jan:           2
Feb:           0
Mar:          0
Apr:          0
May:         2
June:          4
July:          0
Aug:          1
Sept:          2
Oct:          5
Nov:         1
Dec:          0

There are 27 UFOs left to complete

Linking to:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Labyrinth Completed

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UFO: Labyrinth

I was happily working away on my Labyrinth quilt while I was at the retreat.  When the quilting was done, I, as normal, trimmed off the batting and extra backing.  The there was a HUGE loud swear word that came out of my mouth.  I had somehow gotten a corner of the quilt under what I was trimming and I cleanly sliced a wedge about 2″ x 7″ out of a corner (sorry, no picture) … GROAN … A lot of people came to my rescue and provided me with a ton of suggestions … ♥ quilting friends ♥ calmed me down and gave me viable solutions.  I hand stitched the wedge into place.  You can’t see it in the border, but it does show on the back.  One suggested I add an additional label over the wedge once I know who it will be gifted to.  I am just very thankful that it was in a corner and not in the middle of the quilt!  Here’s a picture of the finished quilt, followed by close-ups of the quilting:

Labyrinth 1-1

More Retreat Photos: Works in Progress

Here’s a few more pictures of works in progress at the retreat.

Design Wall

IMG_1215Benartex had a contest on Facebook and I entered a quilt that I had made years ago with their fabric.  No, I didn’t win.  I didn’t even come in the top half.  But that’s OK.  Just for entering, I received a very cute charm pack.  It’s called “A Moose for Christmas.”  It’s in the process of becoming a table runner.  This is the first design / fabric placement layout … there’s likely to be many more before I start sewing it together.  It’s fun to work with these fabrics because they are  so very cute!  And the colours suit me and my house.

Stash Report

broken wagon

I fell off my fabric diet wagon this weekend.  In fact, the wagon broke.

I went into one store and managed to leave with only buying a few notions.  But the 2nd store, Needle & I, I went into buy micro brushes.  They are intended for applying IMG_1216adhesives etc.  but they are fantastic for cleaning your machine.   They were on sale … so was some fabric and I looked at the fabric and quickly looked away.  And then I was chatting with the gals in the shop and I looked some more and then the wagon broke!   In my defence, the neutral fabric is for backing a quilt!  The colour is not true in the picture.  The top fabric is actually a beige/cream and the bottom is a pretty blue.  A VERY pretty blue.  A lovely lovely blue.  Did you know that blue is my favourite colour? unknown-jpg

Fabric Used this Week:     8.5  yards  
Fabric Used year to Date:  171  yards
Fabric Added this Week:    8  yards 
Fabric Added Year to Date:  62 yards
Net Fabric used for 2017:   109 yards  

UFO tally

2017     UFO’s completed
Jan:           2
Feb:           0
Mar:          0
Apr:          0
May:         2
June:         4
July:          0
Aug:         1
Sept:         2
Oct:          5
Nov:         1

27  UFO’s left to complete.  (3 UFO’s have  been given away)

Linking to:

Happy Quilting
Gail

 

 

 

Oct 23 Report

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Design Wall

Am preparing a few Christmas placemats for a binding demo / class later this week.  Later, the guild will be donating them to Meals on Wheels for Christmas.  Here’s a picture of one of them and it will have a flange binding on it.  These placemats will help my fabric numbers, but since I started them yesterday, they definitely are not UFOs!IMG_1139

2 quilts finished (on my last post)

I finished the quilt that needs to be gifted before I show a picture.  It was a UFO and I bought the backing and fabric for the appliqué.  (Which I included in my purchases a few weeks ago.) It used a total of 4.5 yards of fabric.

The other is a simple flannel quilt that has already been donated to the guild.  It used 4 yards of fabric.  It also was a UFO that was languishing in the baby quilts bin.

Total yards used this week: 8.5 yards.

Stash Report

Fabric Used this Week:     0 yards  
Fabric Used year to Date:  149.5  yards
Fabric Added this Week:    0  yards 
Fabric Added Year to Date:   54 yards
Net Fabric used for 2017:   95.5 yards  

UFO tally

2017   Completed
Jan:           2
Feb:           0
Mar:          0
Apr:          0
May:          2
June:          4
July:          0
Aug:          1
Sept:          2
Oct:           2

33  UFO’s left to complete.

Linking to:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Stash Report & Design Wall Monday, Sept. 18, 2017

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Design Wall

My leader & ender has become the main project.  It’s a scrappy Irish Chain with
everything, except the kitchen sink.  That’s right – I don’t have fabric with a kitchen sink on it!  I have about 6 more scrappy blocks to make and then I can web the whole thing unknown-jpgtogether!  Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s put a dent in my 2″ square box.  Hmmm, I think that what they say about scraps having sex and multiplying must be true!L 'n E-5

This UFO is next to be quilted … it should be a quick finish … I hope!  I’m thinking of doing serpentine diagonal lines in both directions … will see what happens …IMG_1037

Stash Report

Fabric Used this Week:     15 yards  (Irish Chain, Kansas Troubles)
Fabric Used year to Date:  136.75  yards
Fabric Added this Week:    0  yards 
Fabric Added Year to Date:   49.5 yards
Net Fabric used for 2017:   80.45 yards  

UFO tally

I started the year with 47 UFO’s.  I got the Irish Chain done … a whopping 15 yards of fabric … and it was an UFO.

2017   Completed
Jan:           2
Feb:           0
Mar:          0
Apr:          0
May:          2
June:          4
July:          0
Aug:          1
Sept:         1

37 UFO’s left to complete.  Oh dear … I do hope I get this number way down before the end of the year!

Linking to:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Monday’s Design Wall

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My Ribbon quilt is now a flimsy.  It’s a pretty simple pattern and you can use fat quarters.   The pattern is free and available here.  Be warned: Friends of mine ordered the kit and are totally disappointed with the fabrics (quality and colour).  This quilt is from a collection of fabrics (mostly fat quarters) that I bought eons ago.  I had a plan for it – but it was not to be.  As soon as I saw this pattern, I knew this was THE pattern for the fabrics …  There is enough of the remaining fat quarters and additional fabric that I might even be able to make another quilt with the fabric.  img_0828.jpg

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Design Wall & 150 years …

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Design Wall

At the moment, only this ribbon quilt is in progress … It’s a free pattern found here.  It’s a fairly easy pattern, but make sure that you label all your fabrics as you cut them out. But be warned: Friends of mine ordered the kit and are very disappointed in the fabric quality and colour that was in the kit.

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150 years …

The guild’s show is over … This is the first time I’ve been involved in a quilt show and I am amazed at how everything just fit together and ran smoothly!  The organizers did an excellent job!  So pictures … lots of pictures! Today just one display … later … more pictures …

A few of us were involved in setting up a display “150 years of Quilting in Canada” … IMG_0691

Various guild members lent 26 heritage quilts to the display.  The quilts had stories behind them … wonderful stories.  Some of the members included pictures of the quilt makers.  (Now that was a fantastic idea!)  There were 2 hand crank machines that people were able to try.  A toy machine dating 1860 had a place of honour in the middle of the table. The feed sacks you see in the last 2 pictures were from my cousin Dennis in Ontario.  There was an old ironing board with a collection of antique irons (no picture, sorry!) As well as many other items.

There were lots and lots of interesting stories as people came by.  Many items evoked memories of “when I was a child …” or “I learned to sew on a hand crank.”  It was such fun listening to the stories.

Linking to:

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Design Wall May 1, ’17

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It’s been a while since I’ve posted a “Design Wall” post.  So here goes!

Love Letters

I’m in the process of quilting “Love Letters.”  I’m entering it in the show this coming weekend – sew …. the quilting needs to be finished.  I did some ruler work (see in the pink triangles?) and that took a LOT of time.  Quilting the swirls is going much faster!  However, if I quilt for too long, my thumb on my right hand hurts.  So, I’m trying to quilt this in 10-15 minute segments.  The border and binding are already done – so it’s just the blocks that I need to finish.  I’m hopeful that it will be finished by Wednesday!img_0674.jpg

Fractured Paint Box

This is one of my UFO’s in progress.  It’s a Judy Niemeyer pattern.  This is my 4th quilt using this pattern.  Yes, it’s a paper piecing pattern, but a dear friend taught me how to paper piece without sewing on the paper … and so I can re-use the pattern.  And I must admit – this pattern is very easy to adapt to this method of non-paper-piecing.  This pattern also uses a jelly roll – so it’s a wonderful way to use my beautiful batik jelly rolls that are languishing in my stash!  unknown-jpg

fractured.jpg

Linking to:

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Oops! I have to fix it!

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As I was getting the picture ready for this blog post.  I was happy to have a flimsy completed!  However, the picture showed me that I have a bit of unstitching to do.

sad face Do you see the mistakes?  I have no idea how the green squares on the left and right borders got there.  And there is a blue and white half-square triangles on each side that needs to be re-oriented (again!).  The sides should look exactly like the top and bottom … sigh …

Now, the search is on for the white fabric … where did I put it? IMG_0550

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Mar. 13 ’17 Design Wall

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I’ve been away and we now have company – so very little sewing is happening.

My Current Works in Progress:

Labyrinth Quilt

IMG_5425

This was a kit from Heart & Soul Quilts in Grand Forks … I changed the background fabric … need to add borders … Oops, I see a mistake … will need to take out a couple of blocks and change the orientation … glad I caught it now!

 

Shakespeare in the Park: 

img_0518     It’s being quilted … still … almost 1/2 done!  

BBQG Baby Quilt

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It’s sandwiched … need to quilt and bind it.  Hoping for a finish  in the coming week …

 

 

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Monday’s Design Wall- Mar. 6 ’17

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My Current Works in Progress:

Shakespeare in the Park: 

It’s being quilted …

“Fall” table runner: 

Is sandwiched and still waiting for inspiration on how to quilt it.

BBQG Baby Quilt

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Last week I went a guild charity baby quilt making day!  What a lot of fun!  And, I managed to get this quilt top together … I had thought I would add a border, but if I do that the backing will be too narrow.  Sew … all I will do is add binding – after I quilt it.

 

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Monday’s Design Wall

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image

I went to a fantastic workshop this weekend. It was called “Zendoodling” with Wilma Brock.  It was a lot of fun and I learned tons!   Here is a picture of what I did at the workshop.  I did find it hard to quilt “small” … I’m so used to quilting big quilts, quilting ‘small’ is not an option for me!

My Current Works in Progress:

Shakespeare in the Park: 

Is sandwiched and I’ve quilted 2 snail trail blocks … only 23 left, 16 large star blocks and all the little star blocks and border … it won’t be done in the next few days!

“Fall” table runner: 

Is sandwiched and waiting for inspiration on how to quilt it.

Orca Bay:

No progress.

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Monday’s Design Wall, Feb 20 ’17

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My Current Works in Progress:

Shakespeare in the Park: 
img_0465-2

The back got pieced together today!!

I didn’t take a picture because it is HUGE and is put away until I sandwich the quilt later this week.

 

“Fall” table runner: 

Sorry, no pictures because the result is a secret.  The table runner is for an exchange at a retreat at Over the Rainbow Lodge in April.  Once the exchange has happened, I will post a picture of the runner.

Orca Bay:

No progress.

 

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Monday’s Design Wall

/ quiltinggail / 4 Comments

Shakespeare in the Park: 

Only one more big star block completed this week.  Slow progress on this one!

Orca Bay:

orca-bay-strips-1
orca-bay-strips

3½” blue string blocks are completed.    And here is a picture of the start of my “yardage” for the red string blocks.

 

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Monday’s Design Wall – Jan. 30

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img_0422

Shakespeare in the Park:

There is nothing more to show on my design wall … the snail tail blocks are done & the star blocks are in various stages.  Only one star block is completed.

 

Orca Bay:

Still working on 3 ½” blue string blocks.  Again, I have found that sewing string blocks is not my favourite thing.  Yes, it may use up a bunch of strings … but you can be sure that I’ll be making the red string blocks out of yardage.  (I’ll post a pic when I have my sting yardage made).

En Provence:

Is competed … as soon as there is nice weather, I’ll post a picture.

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting

Gail

Monday’s Design Wall

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Well, since the retreat, I have been working on a little of this and a little of that.

I am still quilting En Provence.  Quilting about a bobbin’s worth each day.  Hopefully, it will be done by next week.

img_0422

The flying geese got figured out … YEAH!!!  and today, I will be working on the star blocks of “Shakespeare in the Park.”   It’s a pattern by Judy Martin and I’m finding it difficult to figure out how to make it bigger.

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting

Gail

Monday’s design wall

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img_1519

Seems like I’ve done a lot of sewing this week, but not a lot of progress on the En Provence Mystery … I don’t know how some people finished the top the within a day or two of the reveal!  I still only have one block sewn together.  Three almost ready to sew together and about half of the sashing blocks done.   To be honest, I think it’s the sashing blocks that will make the quilt!  They are the ones that form the burgundy stars.

 

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting!

Gail